You are allowed to have an opinion. I appreciate that you left a comment. I think it works, if you don't thats fine I can except your right to comment, I just think your wrong.
Hi James, There are a couple of things I do not like, but I can see why others might like it. I think this a typical example of "you love it or hate it" style of picture. Here a couple of my do not likes. The first thing I noticed when I looked at the picture was the contrast in the picture. The blown highlights on the cheek and forehead close to the dark hair. A high key Image is not an image that is overexposed, but is an image that contains most of its data on the light side of Mid Grey. This effect is most effective with bright colours and black should be avoided. There must be a lot of black hair in this picture and it is therefore not a true High Key image. The effect you created could work better if you had more mid greys and less blown highlights in the model. The second thing which started to annoy me in this picture was the pose of the model. That arm is cut off and is sticking out uselessly. It does not perform a function. Had you cropped the picture to just below the arm, with a bit of the bottom of the arm cropped off as well than the arm would form the base of the portrait and would improve the overall composition. The soft effect can work on a picture like this, but it needs more detail to work with. At the moment with the contrast being so high and the mid greys being in one range only, it all looks "overcooked".
I am glad you like the picture because that is what is important. This forum has some good learning value, at least it used to, so do not immediately disagree with the posters, but try to see the image the way they see it, that is the true value of posting on photographic sites. We post to hear comments, good or bad, so we can learn. We do not post to boast only, because that would lead to many disappointments. Anyway I hoped I helped....
Thank you for your comment, I often find that when people disagree with a comment the original poster does not take the time to reply. I will give Roger time to reply.
You have made a good point about the arm but I wanted a square format and that’s just the crop. The photograph is not perfect, but yes, I do like it. It is a little soft because I wanted it to be soft it is bright because I wanted it to be bright.
Your statement that because there is a lot of black hair in the photograph it is not high key is incorrect! I will be kind and not say your statement is nonsense as you have a right to your opinion. Is it your opinion that a photograph that includes dark tones cannot be high key.
Simon, I don’t immediately disagree with posters! I have also learned from this forum and from others. I will take on board what people say if I think what they say is valid. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge of photography with others.
As you say it is important that I like the photograph, and I do. I thank you for your comments.
James, I did not reply earlier to your popst as I did not feel there was anything further to say. We differ on our opinions of this photo and that is OK with me. I assumed you posted to get feedback and opinions which is what i tried to do. We could argue forever over this shot and still never agree. I think the main point of the posts here is that what is imporatant is that you like your creation. As soon as we try simply to please other our creativity becomes stiffled and ordinary.
Is it your opinion that a photograph that includes dark tones cannot be high key.
No James I haven't said that. There are a lot of definitions for a "true" High Key image, and a lot of people disagree about it. The general consensus is however that the majority of the data should be lighter than mid-grey, and especially the main data which in a portrait is a face. In a monochrome High key image you should look for a large amount of data on the bright side. that is why I mentioned that the contrast is too high. the use of black is OK. If it is used to emphasise other points or lines in the image it can be very effective.
I take your point about wanting a square format, however, Simon is right in his recommendation for a crop. Make the picture more portrait sized thereby losing a lot of the arm and crop some off the bottom also removing the arm pit and dress. Artistically this would then look much better, but keep the original if it also pleases you.
I say this having been an artists for over 12 years now and attended 'life studies' at evening classes for a good number of years.
I do recommend a tool that a lot of artists use and photographers can use it also. Buy a picture mount from an art shop (or even Wilkinsons have sold them in the past) large enough for the hole in it to cover your computer screen. Then cut diagonally through two of the opposing corners so you have two pieces. Use these one against the other to frame your pictures and by moving them in and out you find the best crop without having actually altered your picture.
